Kagawa unhappy with debut season at United

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa says he is dissatisfied with his first season in English football, despite lifting the Premier League title.



Kagawa, 24, arrived at Old Trafford last summer with a big reputation having played a key role in Borussia Dortmund's back-to-back Bundesliga triumphs.



The Japan international showed plenty of glimpses of quality throughout the season - notably with a memorable hat-trick against Norwich in March - but injuries hampered his consistency.



And after securing his third straight league title, Kagawa has promised United fans that there is plenty more to come from him.



"I was looking to produce even more results," Kagawa said. "I was injured and I felt things didn't go well easily. I had a lot of conflict, frustration and worries. In that sense, I think it has been a profound year.



"Honestly, I haven't contributed as much as I did at Dortmund. I was even injured. I still don't quite have that feeling of accomplishment. But I've managed to win three in a row. I think my career is bound to get better and better."

Kagawa: I had more to offer

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa admits he wishes he could have contributed more to his side's Premier League title winning season.

Kagawa, who arrived at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund last summer, started his debut season at United brightly but suffered a knee injury in October which kept him sidelined for two months.



The 24-year-old scored five goals in 18 Premier League outings for the club, including his hat-trick in the 4-0 success over Norwich last month.

"Honestly, I haven't contributed as much as I did at Dortmund. I was even injured. I still don't quite have that feeling of accomplishment."

Shinji Kagawa

The Japan international has earned plaudits in his home country after helping United to a 20th league title but believes he could have offered more to Sir Alex Ferguson's side.



He said: "I was looking to produce even more results. I was injured and I felt things didn't go well easily.



"I had a lot of conflict, frustration and worries. In that sense, I think it has been a profound year.



"Honestly, I haven't contributed as much as I did at Dortmund.



"I was even injured. I still don't quite have that feeling of accomplishment."



Despite feeling he could have offered more on an individual level, Kagawa was pleased to be part of three successive title wins after helping Dortmund to back-to-back championships following his move from J-League club Cerezo Osaka in 2010.



The midfielder is hoping to build on that tally, adding: "I've managed to win three in a row. I think my career is bound to get better and better."




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Kagawa named as Asia's best overseas player

Shinji Kagawa has been named the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) International Player of the Year after a sterling 12 months with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.

The 23-year-old edged out Inter Milan's pacy full-back Yuto Nagatomo and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer for the inaugural trophy, which is given to the best player based outside the AFC region.



A key player in Dortmund's league and cup "double" last season, Kagawa joined Manchester United for an initial fee of £12million during the summer amidst much fanfare.



He has shown glimpses of his mercurial ability for United this term but has not featured for Sir Alex Ferguson's men since the end of October due to a knee injury.



Ulsan Hyundai forward Lee Keun-ho won the AFC Player of the Year award for players based within the region.



The 27-year-old, who was briefly linked with Blackburn Rovers in 2009, was instrumental in leading Ulsan to the AFC Champions League title this season.


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Kagawa out for up to a month

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa will be sidelined for three to four weeks with a knee injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed.

The Japan star, 23, twisted awkwardly during Tuesday's thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Braga in the Champions League and subsequent scans have confirmed damage to the ligaments.



Kagawa has made an encouraging start to life at Old Trafford since signing from Borussia Dortmundover the summer in a deal set to rise to £17m, and his absence is likely to result in Tom Cleverley starting further forward in Sunday's clash with Chelsea.

Better news for Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson comes in the forms of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, who will return to training next week having finally overcome a broken metatarsal and knee trouble respectively.



Meanwhile, Ferguson has backed defender Rio Ferdinand over his joint statement with brother Anton on the continuing row over racism in football.



The Scot said: "I was pleased he did that, him and his brother. Awareness is rising, the problem isn't going to go away but I think the FA need to work harder especially with UEFA. But for now we need to be concentrating on football."

United concern over Kagawa

Manchester United are waiting to discover the seriousness of an injury sustained by Shinji Kagawa after the midfielder twisted his knee against Braga.



The Japan international suffered the damage during the first half of Tuesday night's thrilling 3-2 comeback win in the UEFA Champions League.

The result virtually guaranteed the Red Devils a place in the competition's knockout phase with three games remaining.

But it may come at a price, with Kagawa due for tests on Wednesday to discover the extent of the problem.

"Kagawa twisted his knee," said Ferguson. "He struggled on for 20 minutes but we will assess in in the morning because we don't know the extent of it at the moment."

With goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard also ruled out for a week after suffering a thumb injury in training, Ferguson is likely to be down on numbers for Sunday's crucial Premier League trip to leaders Chelsea.

Of more concern to the United boss is his team's inability to keep the opposition out after they found themselves behind for the eighth time in 12 games this season against Braga.

"I can't get to the bottom of it, I am afraid," he said. "If you analyse the goals we are losing, they have come from throw-ins, crosses, cut-backs - all sorts. And they are finding players free in the box.



"It is difficult to put your finger on it, and it is a concern because it is making it difficult for us."

Kagawa told to make changes

Manchester United have instructed Shinji Kagawa to adapt his game and become more of a threat up front, the Japan international has revealed.



The former Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder starred for the German champions in the Bundesliga, netting 21 goals in 49 appearances, and while he has scored twice in six appearances for United, Kagawa revealed he has been instructed to be more dangerous by the Premier League club.



"They have told me not to face the goal with my back, but move my body so I have a short way to the goal," Kagawa told reporters.



"(I must) shape my body so I am facing the stands. I have to face the goal or I won't be a threat."



The 23-year-old playmaker is an industrious worker, with Dortmund utilising his impressive work rate in order to play a high pressing game, yet Kagawa feels he needs to get stronger to cope with the Premier League: "I've realised that I need to limber up and strengthen my body trunk."



Kagawa played out on the right for the first hour of United's 3-0 away win at Newcastle United on Sunday, with his normal position behind the strikers being occupied by Wayne Rooney, who tweeted after the game: "Really enjoying my new midfield role, always involved", suggesting Kagawa may have a challenge for his preferred role.



However, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised his new signing, stating: "We're very pleased with Shinji. Adapting to English football isn't easy but bit by bit he's getting down to that part.



"You always try and improve your players; that's our job as coaches and hopefully we can improve Kagawa."

Shinji Kagawa says injury is 'good lesson'

Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa has vowed to take better care of himself after being sidelined by a back injury that he said may have been caused by "travel and fatigue".



Kagawa, forced out of Japan's 1-0 win against Iraq on Tuesday by a minor back strain, admitted he needed to strengthen his body to prevent further problems. It is unknown when he will return for his new club.



"It may be due to travel and fatigue," Kagawa told reporters on Wednesday, before boarding the 12-hour return flight to England. "I can get by if I take good care of my body," he added. "I've learned a good lesson from this."



The attacking midfielder felt a "twinge" in his back during training and despite treatment, he was eventually withdrawn from Japan's team just before kick-off in Saitama.



Kagawa, 23, has not been known to suffer any back problems since starting his professional career in 2006, with J-League side Cerezo Osaka.



But he said joining Manchester United, in a high-profile summer transfer from German champions Borussia Dortmund, had shown him he needed to improve his physique.



"After moving to the Premier League, I've realised that I need to limber up and strengthen my body trunk," said Kagawa, who is 172cm (five feet seven-and-a-half) and 63kg (139lbs).



Kagawa gave fresh reassurances the back problem was "not serious", and said he was taking medication. "I think I can come back (play) soon. I have to consult my medical staff and do my best until the next match," he said.



Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson may be unlikely to risk his new signing against Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The Red Devils also play Turkey's Galatasaray in the European Champions League next Wednesday.



"Tough games are going to start and I will have to fight for a regular spot. I want to go out in perfect condition," Kagawa said.

Kagawa injury worry for Man Utd

Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa pulled out of Japan's home World Cup qualifier against Iraq an hour before kick-off with a reported lower back problem.



The Japan Football Association revealed that the playmaker felt a twinge in his back during training for the Group B qualifier in Saitama.



Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni decided not to risk Kagawa, whose injury will also be a concern to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the home game against Wigan on Saturday.



The 23-year-old has made three appearances for the Red Devils, scoring once, since his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.